An Orlando pastor’s wife was severely injured on Friday after police said a man broke into the couple’s home and launched a brutal attack.

Orlando police said they received reports of a home invasion on Caribbean Court around 1:46 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31.

William Curl reportedly called 911 after arriving home and finding his wife, Lucy, severely battered in their vehicle in the garage. Officials said Lucy was pressing on the horn for help.

She was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where, as of Monday, she remained in critical condition, according to reports by NBC affiliate WESH.

William told authorities the suspect was an unknown Black man. Police later found the suspect, identified as Ronald Davis, 55, of Orlando, sleeping inside a shed a few miles away from the couple’s home.

Ronald D. Davis (Credit: Orlando police)

An arrest affidavit obtained by WESH stated that Davis had gone up to the couple’s home and knocked on the door, claiming to be a “community service officer.”

When Lucy answered, he told her he needed to check the home. Lucy asked to see his ID, but after flashing his driver’s license, Davis reportedly forced his way into the home. That’s when Lucy was “brutally attacked,” officials said.

Police said Davis was released from prison in June 2024 after serving a 15-year concurrent sentence for similar charges: burglary of a dwelling with assault and battery, as well as robbery.

He is now facing charges for home invasion robbery with a weapon, aggravated battery on a person over 65 with great bodily harm, and aggravated battery with a weapon, according to Orlando police.

“I think we need to be smart about what we do with our former inmates and how we track them,” Roman Marchuk, an Airbnb guest in the neighborhood, told WESH. “Because this keeps occurring, and it’s upsetting.”

The senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Orlando said Lucy and her husband have both been on staff at the church for many years. Neighbours also told reporters that the couple has had a major impact on the community.

“They are like beacons of this neighborhood, and I never thought that this would happen. It just breaks my heart,” their neighbour Ann Hoskinson said.